{"id":262114,"date":"2026-01-08T13:18:44","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T18:18:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=262114"},"modified":"2026-02-12T15:25:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T20:25:29","slug":"early-realistic-options-for-the-bengals-2026-first-round-pick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2026\/01\/08\/early-realistic-options-for-the-bengals-2026-first-round-pick\/","title":{"rendered":"Early Realistic Options For The Bengals’ 2026 First-Round Pick"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cincinnati Bengals’ season is over, so coaches and players are cleaning out lockers, having year-end discussions, and planning vacations. Of course, for the front office, now is the busy season. Who will the team retain? Who will they target in free agency? What about the draft? For the tiny scouting department in Cincinnati, this is about as spread thin as things can be. Add in the fact that de facto GM Duke Tobin isn’t even the one who negotiates deals. However, it’s time to take a way-too-early look at the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n

After falling to the Browns in Week 18, the Bengals’ range for picks was anywhere between eight and ten. After the Saints and Chiefs also lost, the Bengals were slotted with the 10th-overall pick. Now, fans get to stress over the Chiefs picking one spot ahead, presumably ready to poach any player the fans have their hearts set on.<\/p>\n

Of course, at 10th overall, the Bengals are in a good spot. There are plenty of great defenders worthy of the pick, plus an expectation that two or three quarterbacks will be taken. The board is very likely going to fall nicely for the Bengals. Who are the way-too-early targets? Here are five.<\/p>\n

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\"Caleb
Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs leaves the field with a rose in his mouth following the 42-17 win over the Tennessee Volunteers in the College Football Playoff first round game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Dec. 21, 2024. Ohio State will face Oregon in the Rose Bowl.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State<\/h3>\n

There is a healthy crossover of Ohio State and Bengals fans, so drafting Caleb Downs<\/a> would be well-received. Even among those with little-brother syndrome would have to agree that Downs would immediately upgrade the defense.<\/p>\n

The Bengals haven’t used a first-round pick on a safety since Dax Hill. Downs should be considered better than Hill because the defensive coaching staff had no idea what to do with Hill and only recently figured it out.<\/p>\n

Downs is a true plug-and-play<\/a> pick. Bengals fans have watched Kyle Hamilton<\/a> star for the Baltimore Ravens. Here is your Kyle Hamilton.<\/p>\n

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Caleb Downs should be a top 10 pick\u2026 but we know NFL teams will overthink pic.twitter.com\/KEVCYIKOaY<\/a><\/p>\n

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 8, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n